Drug trial shows promise for women with deadly cancers

Combination of drugs showing promise

A clinical drug trial at Dana Farber is showing great promise in the treatment of women with some of the most deadly cancers. Doctors have discovered a combination of drugs that could turn once fatal diseases into chronic illnesses.

Gail Maloney was diagnosed with stage-three ovarian cancer at the end of 2009.

"I've been on four types of chemotherapy regimens. The first were rather severe. I had a lot of side effects and the worst part of it is that they didn't work. The cancer would come back in six months," said Maloney.

Then a year ago she joined a clinical trial at Dana Farber that combined two drugs, taken orally at home, and got results.

"The cancer is not progressing. The tumor itself has shrunk 40 percent. I feel good and I don't have any side effects," said Maloney.

Sixteen patients enrolled in the study carry an inherited BRCA gene mutation that makes women more susceptible to ovarian and breast cancer. But ironically, the best trial results were found in BRCA mutation carriers.

"When we give chemotherapy to patients, cancer cells figure out ways around it and they can repair themselves from those drugs. What's special about this combination is that cells that lack BRACA can't repair, and that's why the combination is so effective," said Dr. Geoffrey Shapiro, director of early drug development at Dana Farber.

In the study, about half of the patients with the BRACA mutation had marked shrinkage of the tumor or stabilization of the cancer.

"The goal is to try and prolong life as long as we can and make life better," said Shapiro.

Maloney no longer feels like her cancer carries a death sentence. She and her husband are enjoying every day more than ever.

"This drug gives you a lot of hope for the future, like you'll be here for quite awhile," said Maloney.

Doctors say though the hope is for total remission, the more likely scenario is to manage the cancer and stop its progression.